A Lakeside Prayer

Lord of the great waters
That ceaselessly flow beneath the vaulted sky,
Hear my lakeside prayer.
Grant me the poise of all floating things-
Waterfowl, water lilies,
Slender canoe and slim sailing ship-
That ride high and trustful
Over great depths,
Sustained by the mercy of the waves.

Lord of the timeless waters
That were here before man was here,
That will remain when man is gone,
Grant me unhurried calm.
Let not the busy beating of the seconds
Quicken the tempo of my living
So that I become more of a clock
Than a man.
Let no awareness of swiftly passing moments
Make me forgetful of everlasting things
And the Everlasting One.

Lord of the welcoming waters
That are cordial to inflowing stream,
To ship and swimmer,
And that make room for countless fishes
And other dwellers of the deep,
Make me a welcoming spirit,
With abundant room in my soul
For the cares and griefs,
The enthusiasms and joys,
Of all Thy children,
Knowing that, like the lake lying before me,
The more good things I receive into myself
The higher I shall rise.

Lord of the pardoning waters,
Grant unto me a forgiveness that forgets a wound
Wrought by friend or foe
As the great waters are cut by a keel,
Ruffled by a breeze,
And buffeted by storm,
But in mere moments resume their tranquility
As if keels and breezes and storms
Had always been kind.

Lord of the reflecting waters
That repeat the hues of heaven
Upon their bosom-
The azure blue of fair days,
The somber gray of clouds,
The radiant glory of sunsets,
The silver sheen of moon and stars-
Make me reflective, too,
Mirroring in all my days
The magnificence of a Higher Will
And a greater glory
Than belongs to man.

Amen.